Pressurized gas containing system

ABSTRACT

A pressurized gas containing system has a cowling and mounting ring which supports a valve and regulator on a cylinder containing gas under pressure.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/125,233 filed Apr. 23, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pressurized gases for medical and other uses are normally contained in acylinder with a dispensing valve mounted on the top. The cylinders aresubject to receive bumps and impacts during transportation and handlingwhich can damage the valve if it is not properly protected. Suchcylinder valve combinations are typically configured with simple on-offvalves and do not include pressure control or flow control. They lackthe ability to deliver gases at desired pressures and flow ratesincluding special applications in which approximately atmosphericpressure is desired. It is entirely important to the proper and accuratefunctioning of internal pumps engaged with certain air monitoringinstrumentation that the valve combinations have the ability to delivergases at approximately atmospheric pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an integrated pressurized gascontaining and delivery system including a dispensing valve, pressureand flow control elements and a valve protector. The system includes anew design of demand flow regulator, the feature of integrating thedemand flow regulator into the dispensing appliance, a fixedpressure/fixed flow meter integrated with the pressure regulator and newdesigns of cowling and mounting ring for engagement with the cylindercontaining the gas. The design of the mounting ring is such as to (1)provide the user with better observation in order to detect leakage and(2) provide sufficient flexibility to permit deformation upon receivingimpacts without causing leakage. Such flexibility/deformability absorbsforces from such impacts which could otherwise damage the flow regulatoror valve. The valve/flow regulator is provided with a gasket/O-ringformed of Viton® or other suitable fluoroelastomer material whichprovides excellent sealing at temperatures below those which aresuitable for prior art Teflon® gaskets.

Under one embodiment, the new design of cowling permits it to bemachined or molded in one piece, in contrast to prior art two-piececowlings which require an extensive and expensive assembly operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanyingdrawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing one embodiment of valve, mountingring and cowling attached to a cylinder tank of pressurized gas.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the tank, valve, mountingring and cowling rotated 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis of thetank.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the tank, valve, mountingring and cowling rotated 180 degrees.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the valve and cowling positioned in thedirection of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a mounting ring according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the mounting ring of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A to 7D are views of an integrated valve/adjustable flow regulatoraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a standard neck portion ofmetal cylinder containing gas under pressure to which an integratedcombination of the present invention may be attached.

FIG. 9A is a fragmentary elevational view of an assembly of cowling,mounting ring and integrated valve and demand flow regulator.

FIG. 9B is a top plan view the assembly shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a sectional view of the mounting ring shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10B is a top plan view of the mounting ring shown in FIG. 9A.

FIGS. 11A to 11F are views of the integrated valve demand flow regulatorof the present invention.

FIGS. 12A to 12F are views of integrated valve/constant flow regulator.

FIG. 13A is an elevational view of a swivel filling connector.

FIG. 13B is a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 13A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a cylinder 10 containingpressurized gas of a type, for example, used for medical applications orair monitoring instrument calibration such as oxygen, carbon monoxide,nitrous oxide and the like. Secured to the cylinder 10 is a dispensingassembly 12 comprising a fixed pressure adjustable flow regulator 14supported on a mounting ring 16 and protected from bumping and otherimpacts by a cowling 18. The adjustable flow regulator 14 extendsupwardly from the cylinder 10 and has an axis A lying on thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder 10. The flow regulator 14 includes andis integrated with a rotary shut off valve 20, a cylinder contentpressure gauge 22, a fill port 24 for introducing gas under pressureinto the cylinder 10 and an outlet 26. The fill port 24 is provided witha sealed filling cover 28. The filling cover 28 is threadedly secured tothe fill port 24 and is provided with a plurality (preferably 3) ofapertures 30 facing outwardly which must be engaged by a special toolsuch as a spanner wrench for securing and removing the filling cover 28from the fill port 24. The outer edge of the cover 28 is beveled in anattempt to prevent the use of pliers or other tool, with the objectiveof preventing personnel other than the fill plant personnel fromaccessing the fill connection.

The cowling 18 is machined or molded in one piece from a suitableplastic material such as polyacetal. It could also be machined fromaluminum. The cowling 18 serves as a protective shield for theadjustable flow regulator 14. In contrast to prior art cowlings orprotective shields which are manufactured in two pieces and which mustbe assembled, the cowling 18 of the present invention is manufactured,preferably injection molded or machined, in one piece. It is designed tobe engaged to the mounting ring 16 so that the force of any impactsagainst the cowling 18 during handling is absorbed primarily by thecowling 18 and the mounting ring 16 to which it is attached. Thecombination of the cowling 18 and the mounting ring 16 thus serves toprevent destructive forces resulting from impacts during handling fromdamaging the adjustable flow regulator 14.

The cowling 18 may include a generally cylindrical wall portion 32extending from a lower end having outwardly facing threads 34 to anupper end 36 which is above the top 37 of the flow regulator 14. Thearea of the cowling 18 intended to be aligned with the pressure gage 22has a generally Y-shaped cut out which is defined by a top edge 35spaced downwardly from and parallel to the upper end 36, a pair of edges38 extending downwardly from the top edge 35 in parallel relationship toone another, downwardly and inwardly tapering edge portions 39 whichterminate slightly above the top of the gauge 22. A pair of paralleledges 40 extend from the lower ends of the respective tapered portions39 to a bottom edge 41. The bottom edge 41 is spaced slightly above theupper portion of the threads 34 and is generally aligned with orslightly below the lower portion of the gauge 22 such that the loweredge 41 and the parallel edges 40 define an opening through which thepressure gauge 22 may be viewed.

As shown in FIG. 3 the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the cowling 18 isprovided with a valve access hole 42 which is aligned with the shut offvalve 20. Referring to FIG. 1, the side of the cowling 18 opposite thevalve access hole 42 is provided with an access hole 44 aligned with thefill port 24. The cowling 18 is additionally provided with an opening 46in the area aligned with the outlet 26 to permit engagement of a tubefor receiving gas dispensed from such outlet.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting ring 16 is preferably formed ofaluminum and has a circular outer ring 48 having internal threads 49 toreceive the threads 34 of the cowling 18. Extending radially inwardlyfrom the lower edge of the outer ring 48 is a bottom wall 50. Extendinginwardly and upwardly from the bottom wall 50 at an angle ofapproximately 45° is a tapered wall section 52 which extends upwardly toa position approximately 0.1 inch below the upper edge of the outer ring48. Preferably, the wall section 52 is thinner in the area adjacent tobottom wall 50 than in the area adjacent the top 54. The top 54 has acenter hole 55 for receiving the flow regulator 14. The top 54 is joinedto the upper portion of the tapered wall 52 and is spaced approximately0.1 inch below the upper edge of the outer ring 48.

The tapered wall 52 is provided with four elliptical holes 56 adjacentthe top 54 and spaced approximately 90° from one another. The holes 56serve to provide an added measure of deformability and resilience to themounting ring 16 for absorbing impacts received during handling andthereby protecting the flow regulator 14 from damage it might otherwisereceive from absorbing the force of such impacts.

The outer ring 48 of the mounting ring 16 is provided with a pair ofapertures 58 disposed 180° from one another for receiving rivets 59 (seeFIG. 2) for providing additional stability to the connection of thecowling 18 to the mounting ring 16 and preventing any unintendedrotation of the cowling 18 relative to the mounting ring 16. Any suchunintended rotation could lead to leakage of pressurized gas from thecylinder, as well as hand and/or finger injuries due to unintendedrotation of the cowling, thereby permitting contact of fingers with theregulator components.

The mounting ring 16 is also provided with a pair of raised areas 60 onthe top 54. Each raised area 60 has an edge 61 parallel to the diameterof the mounting ring and parallel to each other on opposite sides of thehole 55. The adjustable flow pressure regulator 14 is positioned in thehole 55 and attached to the cylinder by conventional means well known inthe art. The purpose of the raised areas 60 is to provide flat surfaces(i.e. edges 61) for engagement by matching flat surfaces of the pressureregulator 14 to prevent the pressure regulator from rotating relative tothe mounting ring 16 after the components are assembled. The raisedareas 60 may be first and second plates welded or otherwise affixed tosaid top 54.

An O-ring gasket manufactured of Viton® is provided in the connectionbetween the adjustable flow regulator 14 and the cylinder 10. The use ofa gasket manufactured from a fluoroelastomer material such as Viton®provides exceptionally good resistance to leakage particularly at coldtemperatures, for example, temperatures below 0° F. The feature ofproviding four elliptical holes 56 in the tapered wall 52, in additionto providing enhanced deformability to the mounting ring 16, providesadditional ports for viewing to determine whether any leakage of thepressurized gas is occurring.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7D there is shown an integrated combination 150ready for installation on the neck 82 of a cylinder such as that shownin FIG. 8. The combination 150 includes a valve 151 and an adjustableflow regulator 152. The valve 151 has a rotary shut-off valve 156 and apressure gauge 159 mounted on a housing or body member 154. Mounted onthe body member 154 is an inlet-refill connection 155, a shut off valve156 disposed 180° from the inlet-refill connection 155, a 3700 PSIGrupture disk 157 (actual burst pressure of the disk is set by USDepartment of Transportation regulations as incorporated by referencefrom Compressed Gas Association standard S-1.1). An outlet 144 extendsfrom the adjustable flow regulator 152.

A tubular or cylindrical inlet connection 140 extends from the bodymember and has external threads 85 for engagement with the internalthreads 83 of the neck 82 (FIG. 8) of the cylinder containing gas underpressure. An O-ring seal 86 of Viton® or similar flouroelastic materialencircles the tubular connection 140 adjacent body member 154. Thecylindrical inlet connection 140 extends through the center hole 55 of amounting ring 16. See FIGS. 5 and 6. The lower surface of the top 54 ofthe mounting ring 16 rests on the rim or upper surface 97 of the neck 82(FIG. 8). Upon engagement of the external threads 85 of the inletconnection 140 with the internal threads 83 of the neck 82 of thecylinder, the O-ring seal 86 will be squeezed against a recessedshoulder 89 of the neck 82 to provide a positive seal between theintegrated combination 150 and the neck 82 such that the top 54 of themounting ring 16 will be clamped against the rim 97. The lower end ofthe body member 154 has an extension 148 with a square cross sectionhaving four flat edges. Two opposing ones of the flat edges of theextension 148 are in engagement with the respective edges 61 of themounting ring 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B there is shown a modified embodiment ofa connector assembly 100 of a cowling 120 and mounting ring 130 that canhave incorporated therein the various types of integrated combinationsof valves and regulators including the valve-adjustable flow regulatorof FIGS. 1-4, the vacuum breaker demand flow regulator to be describedwith respect to FIGS. 11A and 11B or the integrated valve-constant flowregulator described with respect to FIGS. 12A to 12F.

FIGS. 9A and 9B, show a cylinder 110 having a neck 82 as previouslydescribed with respect to FIG. 8 having inwardly facing threads 83, aflat upper surface 97 and a recessed shoulder 89 adjacent the outlet anddownwardly from said upper surface 97. An integrated valve-demand flowregulator 160 is secured to the cylinder 110.

The assembly 100 includes a cowling 120 of a type which is standard inthe industry. For example, the cowling 120 could be one manufactured byHyperKinetics Corporation, Williamstown, Vt. as its model No. ECH-5. Thecowling 120 includes a base 122 having inwardly facing threads 123 and awall member 124 tapering upwardly and outwardly from the base 122 to anupper edge 126. The wall member 124 defines an arc of a circle ofapproximately 270° to 300° and terminates in a pair end portions 124Aand 124B which cooperate to define an opening through which a wrenchmaybe inserted for access to wrench flats of an integrated combinationof one of the types noted above. The cowling may also have one or moreopenings 128 through which the integrated combination affixed to thecylinder 110 may be observed.

The cowling 120 is secured to a mounting ring 130 having a base 137 anda cylindrical wall or ring 132 with external threads. The base 137includes a flange 134 extending radially outwardly from the threadedwall 132. As can be seen in FIG. 9A, the threads 123 of the cowling 120are engaged to the threaded wall 132 of the mounting ring 130 with thebase 122 of the cowling 120 resting upon the flange 134. See also FIGS.10A and 10B.

The mounting ring 130 has a top 136 with an opening 138 through which atubular inlet 140 of a combination integrated valve-regulator may beinserted. As with the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, an angled wall 135extends upwardly from the base 137 to the top 136. The top 136 lies inthe same plane as that defined by the upper edge 132A of the wall orring 132. Affixed to the top 136 are a pair of raised areas or plates139 which are positioned on opposite sides of the opening and havestraight edges 139A which are parallel to one another. The angled wallhas openings 142, preferably elliptical in shape, for viewing the neck112 of the cylinder 110 in the area adjacent its engagement by the top136 of the mounting ring to ascertain whether there is any leakage ofgas from the cylinder 110. A screw 144 extends through a threadedopening in the base of the cowling 120 and engages the wall 132 of themounting ring 130 to put it in a fixed position following rotation tothe desired position.

Referring to 11A-11F there is shown a combination 160 having anintegrated demand flow regulator vacuum breaker 161 and valve body 162.A cylindrical inlet connection 163 has outwardly facing threadsengageable with the threads 83 of the cylinder 110. The valve body 162includes a refill connection port 164, a shut off valve 165 and a gauge168.

FIG. 11E is a sectional view of the combination integrated demand flowregulator vacuum breaker 161 and valve body 162 mounted on a mountingring 130 of the type described with respect to FIGS. 10A and 10B with astandard cowling 120 secured thereto and FIG. 11F is an enlarged view offeatures of the demand flow regulator vacuum breaker 161. The valve body162 includes a burst disk 167 on the opposite side from the pressuregauge 168. A central passageway 169 extends upwardly from the inletconnection 163 and joins with a second passageway 182 disposed at rightangles thereto and communicating with the burst disk 167. The burst disk167 can withstand pressures up to 3000 Psi. Extending upwardly from thevalve body is a body extension 183 having a central passageway 184 andexternal threads 185 threadedly engaged to internal threads of thedemand flow regulator vacuum breaker 161.

The demand flow vacuum breaker 161 has a V-shaped passageway 186 forreceiving fluid from the passageway 184 of the valve 162.

The vacuum breaker regulator 161 has a central axis A which is offsetfrom the central axis of the valve body 162 which is defined by thecenter of the passageways 169 and 184.

The vacuum breaker regulator is a single stage regulator in contrast tosome prior art demand flow regulators such as that disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,665,894 which is a two-stage demand flow device.

The vacuum breaker regulator 161 includes a chamber 187 which extendsalong axis A upwardly from the lower surface 188 of the housing 181.Positioned in the chamber 187 is a poppet valve 190 extending from areduced size lower extension 190A to an enlarged upper flange 190Bhaving a radially extending shoulder 190C at the lower end thereof.

Encircling the poppet valve extension 190A and a major portion of thecentral portion of the poppet valve 190 is a valve housing 191 having acentral passageway 192 in which the lower poppet valve extension 190A isslidably positioned. The valve housing 191 has a lower chamber 191A inwhich is positioned a Teflon back up ring 193 and an O-ring seal 194effecting a seal between the chamber 191A and the poppet valve extension190A. Above the reduced size chamber 191A of the valve housing 191 is anenlarged upper chamber 191B. A valve guide 195 is positioned in theupper chamber 191B and has a lower reduced size portion 195A whichextends into the reduced size lower chamber 191A. A compression spring196 is positioned in the upper chamber 191B and rests against the valveguide 195 at the lower end and the poppet valve radial flange lowersurface 190C to yieldingly urge the poppet valve 190 to a sealedposition.

A Teflon® seal 198 is positioned at the upper end of the poppet valve190 and has an outwardly convexed sealing surface 198A which engages andeffects a seal of an upper passageway 199 of the body 181. A stainlesssteel collar 200 encircles a reduced size upper portion of the Teflonseal 198 to support it in the enlarged upper portion 190B of the poppetvalve.

The upper surface 187A of the chamber 187 tapers downwardly toward thepassageway 199 in order to permit the convex upper surface 198A of theTeflon seal 198 to effect a sound seal to close the passageway 199 whenso desired. Connected to and extending from the Teflon seal 198 is anactuator pin 201 having a lower cylindrical portion which extendsoutwardly from a lower cylindrical portion to a conical portion 201Afrom which extends a hexagonal head portion 201B. The conical portion201A and enlarged hexagonal portion 201B are positioned in a cylindricalchamber 202 at the upper end of the body 181. As a result of theactuator pin hexagonally shaped head 201B being positioned in thechamber 202 which is cylindrical in shape, a flow passage is providedbetween the hex flats of the enlarged head 201B and the cylindrical wallof the chamber 202.

The upper end of the body 181 has an upper surface 181A and asubstantially cylindrical wall 181B extending upwardly therefrom. Thecylindrical wall 181B terminates in a radially outwardly extendingflange 181C. The flange 181C defines a circle and serves to support theouter edge of a deformable diaphragm 204 and a nickel bonnet 205. Thediaphragm 204 includes an upper elastomer sheet 204A adhered to a thinstainless steel disk 204B. The stainless steel disk is sufficientlythin, on the order of 0.030 inch, to be deformable a downwardly alongwith the layer of elastomer 204A. The bonnet 205, which is not shown inFIG. 11F, has, at its outer periphery, downwardly extending U-shapedportion 205A which engages the outer periphery of the diaphragm 204. Acollar 206 clamps the bonnet 205 and the diaphragm 204 to the radialflange 181C of the body 181.

Positioned in the space between the diaphragm 204 and the upper surface181A of the body 181 is a loading lever 208 formed of stainless steel.The loading lever has a thickness on the order of 0.090 inch which issufficient to provide significant rigidity to the loading lever topermit it to act upon the poppet valve to move the poppet valve 190 toan open position when the loading lever is caused to move downwardly ashereinafter described.

A pair of cam levers 210 are pivotally supported in the space 219 inbetween the diaphragm 204 and the loading lever 208. Cam levers 210 aremounted on hinges 212 and are resiliently urged at an angle upwardlyinto contact with the stainless steel member 204B of the diaphragm 204.Upon a reduction in air pressure to sub-atmospheric in the space 219occupied by the cam levers 210 as a result of the demand for gas from anoutside source, the diaphragm 204 will be sucked downwardly therebypushing the cam levers 210 into engagement with the loading lever 208 tothereby push the loading lever 208 downwardly to a position at which anadjustable screw 212 engages the upper end of the hexagonally shapedportion 201B of the actuator pin thereby moving the poppet valve 190downwardly to disengage the Teflon seal 198 from the end 187A of thechamber, thereby opening the passageway 199 to permit the flow of gas.The stainless member 204B protects the elastomer sheet 204A from beingdamaged by the cam levers 210.

Gas flows from the 219 through and outlet 221 to instrumentationconnected thereto. When the instrumentation demands more gas, it createsa partial vacuum thereby sucking the diaphragm downwardly to open thepassageway 199.

Threadedly position in the center of the loading lever 208 is anadjusting screw 212. The adjusting screw 212 can be rotated to one of avariety of positions extending below the loading lever 208 to therebyprecisely set the regulator to a position for opening the poppet valve190 at the precise amount of pressure as demanded by instrumentationattached to an outlet 221 of the regulator.

The demand for gas by outside instrumentation connected to the inlet 221communicating with the space 219 below the flexible diaphragm creates apartial vacuum which causes the flexible diaphragm to be drawndownwardly carrying with it the cam levers 210 which then contact theloading lever 208 pushing it downwardly to a position at which theadjustable screw 212 contacts the enlarged head 201B of the actuator pin200. Continued downward movement of the loading lever 208 causes theTeflon® seal 198 to move downwardly out of engagement with upper surface187A thereby opening the passageway 199 to the flow of gas to theoutside instrumentation. As previously noted adjustment of the screw 212permits precise adjustment of pressure and the flow of gas.

The diaphragm 204 acts as a sensing element to control the movement ofthe Teflon seal 198 and, thereby, the opening and closing of thepassageway 199. By virtue of the diaphragm 204, the regulator of thepresent invention has a sensitivity such that it can be opened at a muchlower pressure (crack pressure) than prior art vacuum breaker/demandflow regulators. Thus, the regulator of the embodiment of FIGS. 11A to11F can be opened at a vacuum pressure of 1.5 inches of water pressure(0.05 psig) as compared with prior art demand regulators which requirecrack pressures of 3 inches of water pressure or more. This degree ofsensitivity, coupled with the feature of the adjusting screw 212provides a vacuum breaker/demand flow regulator with greater sensitivitythan similar types of prior art regulators.

Referring FIGS. 12A-12F, there is show an integrated combination 170 inwhich there is provided a constant or fixed flow regulator 172 havingintegrally attached thereto a valve body 174 from which extends acylinder inlet connection 175. The valve body 174 has a refillconnection 176 and a shut off valve 177 on the opposite side of thevalve body 174 therefrom. The valve body 174 has a pressure gauge 178.

As may be seen particularly in FIGS. 12E and 12F, the regulator 172includes a body 220 secured to the valve body 174. The valve body 174has a inlet end 224 with outwardly facing threads 226 for engagementwith the neck of a cylinder of compressed gas. An inlet passageway 228extends along the axis of the valve body 174.

The valve body has a lateral passageway 230 leading to an enlargedchamber in which a burst disk assembly 222 is positioned. The pressuregauge 178 is on the opposite side of the body 174 from the burst disk.

The valve body 174 has a reduced size outlet end 232 with outwardlyfacing threads to which the constant flow pressure regulator 172 may besecured. A cylindrical chamber 234 extends inwardly from the outlet endon axis A. Extending laterally from the end of the chamber 234 is anadditional lateral passageway 236 leading to a chamber in which ispositioned a pressure relief valve 238 for the regulator.

The constant flow regulator 172 has a chamber in which it is positioneda piston 240 having an enlarged portion yieldingly movable axially inengagement with the side wall of the regulator chamber. An annular seal242 is positioned in a recess of the enlarged head of the piston 240 andsealingly engages the sidewall of the regulator chamber. The piston 240has a passageway 241 extending along axis A.

Extending axially from the enlarged head of the piston 240 is a reduceddiameter section 240A which is slidably received in the cylindricalchamber 234 of the valve body 174. A Teflon® seat 244 is mounted on theend of the reduced cylindrical portion 240A of the piston 240 and issealingly engageable with an outlet passage 246 of the valve 174. TheTeflon seat 244 has a size smaller than the diameter of the chamber 234so that when the seat 244 is out of engagement with the outlet passage246, gas flow through the outlet passage 246 will flow around the Teflonseat 244, through a lateral passageway and into axially extendingpassageway 241.

A compression spring 248 yieldingly urges the piston 240 toward theright as viewed in FIGS. 12E and 12F and into engagement with a shoulder250 at the outlet end of the regulator. The shoulder 250 is spaced fromthe end of the chamber in order to leave a space 252 for gas to flow toa longitudinal passageway 253 and then to a lateral passageway 254 atthe end of the regulator. The lateral passageway 254 leads to an outlet256 in which is positioned an outlet fitting 258 with a Swage LOC®fitting.

The lateral passageway 254 opens to a first enlarged chamber 260 andthen to a second still larger chamber 262 which has inwardly facingthreads 264. Positioned in the first and second enlarged chambers 260,262 is a needle valve 266 having outwardly facing threads engaged to thethreads 264 and having, at its distal end, a tapered nose 268. Theopposing end of the needle valve is provided with a recess withhex-shaped flats 270 for receiving a tool for rotatably adjusting theneedle valve 266 in the first and second chambers 260, 262. As can beseen in FIG. 12F, the needle valve 266 can be rotated to a positionwhich completely closes the lateral passageway 254 by being rotated to aposition at which the tapered nose 286 engages the outlet end 254A ofthe cylindrical portion of the lateral passageway 254. By rotating theneedle valve 266, it is possible to precisely control the size ofopening between the tapered nose 268 and the outlet end 254A of thecylindrical portion of the lateral passageway 254. Varying the size ofsuch opening varies the rate of gas flow therethrough and the pressure.

It is possible to utilize a standard design of cowling such as thatshown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and the same type of mounting ring 130 for eachof the integrated combinations 150, 160 and 170. As will be readilyappreciated this reduces the number of types cowling required to bemaintained in stock and the number mounting rings to be maintained instock thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of providing cylindershaving a variety of types of integrated combinations and reducing theoverall costs.

Referring FIGS. 13A and 13B, there is shown a new filling connector 180which incorporates a swivel feature for greatly simplifying theprocedure for refilling a cylinder 110 with pressurized gas from astorage tank. The swivel connector 180 has an enlarged body 182 with anexternally threaded connection 184 for engagement with the refillconnection ports 155, 164 or 176 of the embodiments of FIGS. 7A-7D,11A-11F and 12A-12F. Extending from the end of the enlarged body 182opposite that of the filling connection 184 is an inlet port 186 forconnection to a central storage tank of the type of gas to be introducedinto the cylinder 110. The thread neck 184 is sized to be screwed intothe respective refill connections 155, 164 or 176 of the respectiveembodiments of FIGS. 7A-7D, 11A-11F and 12A-12F.

The end of the enlarged body 182 opposite the neck 184 has a rotatableswivel nut 185 sized to receive and snuggly engage an inlet tube 186such as a ¼-18 an NPT. With this construction, the swivel fillingconnector 180 can have the inlet tube 186 engaged to the outlet to asupply tank in fixed relationship thereto. With the inlet tube 186 soaffixed, the enlarged body 182 and its integral filling connection 184may be rotated to threadedly engage the filling connection 184 to one ofthe respective refill connections 155, 164 or 176. The use of the swivelfilling connection 180 greatly simplifies the steps required forconnecting a storage tank of gas to be refilled to a cylinder over thatutilized in the prior art, and provides superior leak integrity to theconnection by preventing cross threads of threaded member.

The above detailed description of the present invention is given forexplanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat numerous changes and modifications can be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoingdescription is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitativesense, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the appendedclaims.

1. For use in dispensing gas from a container containing gas underpressure comprising: an integrated combination of (A) a single stagedemand vacuum breaker regulator, said regulator having an outlet fordispensing said gas and (B) a valve engaged thereto, said valve having atubular inlet extending along a first axis for engagement with saidcontainer and a tubular outlet lying on said first axis, said vacuumbreaker regulator having a body member with (i) a central passageway andan enlarged chamber lying on a second axis displaced from said firstaxis, said enlarged chamber having an outlet; (ii) a second chamberlying on said first axis and engaged by said valve tubular outlet forreceiving gas therefrom, (iii) a passageway for delivering gas from saidsecond chamber to said enlarged chamber, (iv) a poppet valve in saidenlarged chamber for opening and sealing said outlet, said valve beingyielding urged to a closed position, (v) a loading lever movable intoand out of engagement with said poppet valve, (vi) a diaphragm movabletoward said loading lever upon creation of a partial vacuum between saiddiaphragm and said loading lever and (vii) at least one cam levermovable between a position spaced from said loading lever to a positionengaged to said loading lever upon movement of said diaphragmthereagainst.
 2. An integrated combination according to claim 1 furtherincluding adjustment means on said loading lever for limiting the extentto which said valve can be opened.
 3. The integrated combinationaccording to claim 1 wherein said diaphragm has a first layer ofelastomer and a second layer of metal, said second layer beingpositioned to be engaged by said cam lever.
 4. The integratedcombination according to claim 3 wherein said second layer is stainlesssteel having a thickness no greater than 0.030 inch.
 5. The integratedcombination according to claim 1 wherein the said regulator has thecapability of opening said poppet valve at a pressure as low as 1.5inches of water pressure.
 6. The integrated combination according toclaim 1 further including an adjustment mechanism on said loading leverto vary the amount of pressure required to open said poppet valve. 7.The integrated combination according to claim 6 wherein said adjustmentmechanism is threadedly engaged to said loading lever on said secondaxis.
 8. An integrated combination valve and gas flow regulator fordelivering compressed gas from a supply container to instrumentation orother devices comprising: (a) a valve having an inlet, an outlet and acylindrical member defining a chamber extending away from said outletalong an axis; (b) a gas flow regulator positioned to receive gas fromsaid valve, said regulator having a body, a cylindrical sidewallextending from said body and engaged to said valve cylindrical member,said sidewall defining a compartment, a piston axially movable in saidcompartment from an open position to a closed position, said pistonhaving (i) an enlarged head slidingly and sealingly engaged tocylindrical sidewall and (ii) a reduced size section extending axiallyfrom said enlarged head and slidingly engaged to said valve cylindricalmember, a passageway extending axially through said enlarged head andsaid reduced size section, a valve seat mounted on the end of saidreduced size section and movable with said piston from an open positionspaced from said valve outlet to a closed position engageable with saidvalve outlet, a compression spring yieldingly urging said piston to aposition at which said valve seat is spaced from said valve outlet andopen, to a closed position engaged to said valve outlet, a regulatoroutlet in said body for receiving gas from said piston passageway and aneedle valve positioned in said regulator outlet, said needle valvebeing adjustable to vary the size of opening of said regulator outletand thereby vary the pressure.
 9. The integrated combination accordingto claim 8 wherein said needle valve is threadly engaged in saidregulator outlet and is rotatable therein.
 10. The integratedcombination according to claim 9 wherein rotation of said needle valvevaries the amount of pressure acting on said piston, said piston beingaxially movable to cause said valve seat to engage and close said valveoutlet upon said pressure reaching an amount to overcome the resistanceof said compression spring.
 11. The integrated combination according toclaim 8 wherein said regulator is a constant flow regulator.
 12. Acowling for use with a container of pressurized gas having a centralaxis and a flow regulator mounted thereon, said flow regulator extendingaxially along said axis and having (i) a shut off valve, (ii) a pressuregauge and (iii) a fill port positioned at spaced intervals about saidaxis and facing away therefrom, said cowling being manufactured as anintegral unitary one piece unit and including a lower engagement end, awall portion extending axially upwardly from said engagement end to anupper end, said wall portion having (a) a first opening aligned with andproviding access to manipulate said shut off valve, (b) a second openingaligned with said pressure gauge and defining a generally Y-shapedconfiguration having a bottom edge, spaced upwardly from said engagementend, a pair of spaced apart lower side edges extending upwardly fromsaid bottom edge substantially parallel to each other and to said axis,an upwardly and outwardly tapered edge extending from each of said lowerside edges, a pair of spaced apart upper side edges extending upwardlyfrom said tapered edges substantially parallel to each other and to saidaxis and a top edge extending between said upper edges and spaceddownwardly from the upper end of said cowling and (3) a third openingaligned with and providing access to said fill port.
 13. A cowlingaccording to claim 12 in combination with a mounting ring and saidcontainer for pressurized gas, said container having a neck extendingupwardly to an upper end and having inwardly facing threads defining anopening parallel to or lying on said axis and said mounting ringincluding a circular outer ring extending substantially parallel to saidaxis from a lower end to an upper end, said ring having inwardly facingthreads, a bottom wall extending from the lower end of said ringinwardly toward said axis, a tapered wall section extending inwardly andupwardly from said bottom wall, said tapered section having a pluralityof apertures, a top extending from said tapered wall section toward saidaxis, said top having a lower surface engaged to said neck upper end anda center hole in which is positioned said flow regulator, said flowregulator having outwardly facing threads engaged to said neck inwardlyfacing threads and having a shoulder clamping the lower surface of saidmounting ring to said neck upper end.
 14. A cowling according to claim13 wherein said container neck has a recessed shoulder adjacent saidinwardly facing threads and extending downwardly from said neckengagement surface and further including a gasket positioned in saidrecess shoulder, said flow regulator shoulder being in sealingengagement with said gasket.
 15. A cowling according to claim 14 whereinsaid gasket is formed of a fluoroelastomer material.
 16. A cowling andmounting ring combination according to claim 13 wherein said taperedwall section is thinner in the area adjacent to said bottom wall than inthe area adjacent said top.
 17. A cowling and mounting ring combinationaccording to claim 13 wherein said top is below a plane defined by theupper end of said outer ring.
 18. A cowling and mounting ringcombination according to claim 17 further including a pair of raisedareas or plates on said top, said raised areas or plates having straightedges parallel to one another on opposite sides of said center hole,said flow regulator having spaced apart surfaces adjacent the respectivestraight edges.
 19. A cowling and mounting ring combination according toclaim 13 further including means for preventing rotation of said cowlingrelative to said mounting ring.
 20. A cowling and mounting ringcombination according to claim 19 wherein said means for preventingrotation comprises an aperture in said outer ring and a screw or rivetin said aperture engaged to the wall portion of said cowling.
 21. Amounting ring for use with (i) a cowling, (ii) a container ofpressurized gas having a central axis and a neck defining an openingalong said axis and extending to an upper end and (iii) a valve or flowregulator, said mounting ring having a bottom wall perpendicular to saidaxis, a circular outer ring extending substantially parallel to saidaxis from a lower end adjacent said bottom wall to an upper end, saidring having threads engaged to said cowling, said bottom wall extendinginwardly toward said axis, a tapered wall section extending inwardly andupwardly from said bottom wall, said tapered section having a pluralityof spaced apart apertures, a top extending from said tapered wallsection toward said axis, said top having a lower surface engaged tosaid neck upper end and a center hole for receiving said valve flowregulator.
 22. A mounting ring according to claim 21 wherein saidtapered wall section is thinner in the area adjacent to said bottom wallthan in the area adjacent said top.
 23. A mounting ring according toclaim 21 wherein said threads face inwardly.
 24. A mounting ringaccording to claim 21 wherein said threads face outwardly.
 25. Amounting ring according to claim 21 wherein said top is lower than aplane defined by the upper edge of said outer ring.
 26. A mounting ringaccording to claim 25 further including a pair of raised areas or plateson said top, said raised areas or plates having straight edges parallelto one another on opposite sides of said center hole.
 27. A mountingring according to claim 21 further including an aperture in said outerring and a screw or rivet in said aperture engaged to the wall portionof said cowling to prevent rotation of said cowling relative to saidmounting ring.
 28. For use in dispensing gas from a container containinggas under pressure comprising: an integrated combination of (i) anadjustable flow regulator, said regulator having an outlet fordispensing said gas; and (ii) a valve engaged thereto, said valve havinga tubular inlet extending along an axis for engagement with saidcontainer, a connector lying on said axis engaged to said flowregulator, a shut off mechanism between said tubular inlet and saidconnector for opening or closing the flow of said gas between said valveand said flow regulator.
 29. The combination of claim 28 furtherincluding an inlet in said valve transverse to said axis for introducinggas into said container.
 30. The combination according to claim 28wherein said container has a neck extending along an axis andterminating in an upper end transverse to said axis and furtherincluding a mounting ring and a cowling having inwardly facing threadsat a lower end thereof, said mounting ring having (A) a top with (i) alower surface engage to said neck upper end and (ii) a central openinglying on said axis for receiving said tubular inlet of said valve, (B) atapered wall extending outwardly and downwardly to (C) a bottom, (D) acircular outer ring extending upwardly from said bottom and havingoutwardly facing threads parallel to said axis and (E) a flange at saidbottom extending outwardly from said outer ring, said cowling inwardlyfacing threads being engaged to said mounting ring outwardly facingthreads.
 31. The combination according to claim 30 wherein the lower endof said cowling is engaged to said mounting ring flange.
 32. Thecombination according to claim 30 wherein said valve has a shoulderradially outwardly from said tubular inlet engaged to said mounting ringtop.
 33. For use in dispensing gas from a container containing gas underpressure comprising: an integrated combination of (i) vacuum breakerregulator, said regulator having an outlet for dispensing said gas and(ii) a valve engaged thereto, said valve having a tubular inletextending along a first axis for engagement with said container, aninlet to aid vacuum breaker regulator lying on said first axis, achamber and poppet valve communicating with said inlet and lying on asecond axis spaced from said first axis and means for opening saidpoppet valve.
 34. The combination according to claim 33 wherein saidmeans for opening said poppet valve comprises a loading lever movableinto and out of engagement with said poppet valve, a diaphragm movabletoward said loading lever upon creation of a partial vacuum between saiddiaphragm and said loading lever and at least one cam lever movablebetween a position spaced from said loading lever to a position engagedto said loading lever upon movement of said diaphragm thereagainst. 35.A mounting ring for use with (i) a cowling, (ii) a container ofpressurized gas having a central axis and a neck defining an openingalong said axis and extending to an upper end and (iii) a valve having atubular inlet, said mounting ring having (A) a top with (i) a lowersurface engaged to said neck upper end and (ii) a central opening lyingon said axis for receiving said tubular inlet of said valve, (B) atapered wall extending outwardly and downwardly to (C) a bottom, (D) acircular outer ring extending upwardly from said bottom and havingoutwardly facing threads parallel to said axis and (E) a flange at saidbottom extending outwardly from said outer ring, said cowling havinginwardly facing threads engaged to said mounting ring outwardly facingthreads.
 36. The combination according to claim 35 wherein said cowlingcontacts said flange.
 37. A connector for use in filling a containerwith fluid from a storage tank, said container having a valve engagedthereto, said valve having a connection port, said connector comprisingan enlarged body extending along an axis from an externally threadedconnection end sized to be engaged to said connection port, said bodyhaving a passageway and an enlarged cylindrical cavity extending alongsaid axis, an inlet tube positioned in said cavity and rotatablerelative to said body, and a swivel nut positioned in an extension ofsaid cavity and rigidly engaged to said inlet tube, said swivel nutbeing rotatable relative to said enlarged body.